Corn-husking machine.



F. H. KNAPP.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25, $914.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Wbtwwoeo: I I Q THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. KNAPP. CORN HUSKING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED AUG-25. 1914.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a n m i i Q I @QW'J 1.7%

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON. n. t.

s'ra

FREDERICK H. KNAPP, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE KNAPP HUSKER COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A 1916.

Application filed August 25, 1914. Serial No. 858,487.

"."0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. KNAPP, citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Corn-Husking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to corn husking machines, and more particularly to an improved machine of that character embodying cooperating rolls rotatable toward one another, whereby to grasptherebetween and remove the husk from the ears of corn in their passage through the machine.

It has been found in practice that better results are obtainable in machines of this character by imparting to the rotatable husking rolls a movement whereby the rela tive position of the rolls of each pair is constantly changing, to the end that the machine is susceptible of use for simultaneously husking ears of various sizes, and

" with this end in view, it has been proposed to provide a plurality of pairs of husking rolls, arranged in the form of a rotatable drum or cylinder.

lVhile structures of this type have proven highly successful, it is contemplated, by the present invention, to materially simplify the construction and reduce the cost of production, and to, at the same time, preserve many of the advantages of the rotary drum type of construction.

In carrying out the present invention, it is proposed to provide a plurality of husking rolls, with means for rotating the latter about their axes, and means whereby the rolls may be subjected to a rocking movement, whereby the relative position of the rolls of each pair is constantly changing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated. a plurality of pairs of husking rolls are provided, the same being arranged in the form of a cradle, whereby to form a support or runway for the corn, means being provided to impart a rocking movement to the cradle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby to properly position the ears on the rolls. and prevent the ears from being injured should the ends of the ears become wedged between the rolls. I

The invention embraces still further improvements and novel details in the. construction and arrangement of the various parts, as will be appreciated from the description to follow, when considered in conneotion with the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section, with parts in elevation; Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation, and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on line 4.L of Fig. 1.

With more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, a suitable framework is provided, comprising a front end, 1, having suitable supporting feet, 2, at the base thereof, a rear end, 3, having suitable supporting feet at, and connecting side braces, 5.

The front end section 1 of theframe is preferably extended above the rear end section, and theframeis preferably of a design whereby the machine will be arranged at a downward longitudinal inclination from the front to the rear end thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

6 is a longitudinally extending shaft projecting from end to end andhaving suitable bearings in the end sections, 1 and 2, one end of the shaft being extended at 6 beyond the forward end of the machine, Whereby to accommodate suitable driving mechanism for the shaft. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this driving means may take the form of a belt, not illustrated, adapted to engage a suitable pulley 7 secured to the shaft, or by a chain, not illustrated, adapted to engage a suitable sprocket 8, also secured to the shaft, or any other suitable driving means may be employed. I

The. husking members proper are of the form of a plurality of pairs ofhusking rollers extending longitudinally of the machine, the series of rolls being arranged in segment or cradle-like formation. A suitable supporting frame for the rolls preferable comprises segment-shaped end parts 9 and 10, sleeved upon the shaft 6, one of said segment parts of the frame 9 having a down-' wardly projecting arm" 11, adapted to be engaged by means whereby to actuate the frame to impart a rocking movement thereto about the fulcrum provided by the shaft 6.

12 is a gear Wheel secured upon the shaft 6 at a point between the forward end of the main supporting frame and the forward end of the cradle frame, said gear wheel 12 being adapted to mesh with a pinion 13, mounted upon a shaft 14, extending longitudinally of the machine and having suitable hearings in the end supports 1 and 2.

15 is a relatively large gear wheel, mounted upon a suitable stub shaft 16 having a bearing in the end support 1 of the main frame of the machine. Secured to the side of the gear wheel 15 is a suitable eccentric pin 17 loosely engaging an aperture in a sliding block 18, positioned in a slotted opening 19, in the lower end of the actuating arm 11 of the husking roll frame.

From the description of the parts thus far, it will be appreciated that by imparting rotatable movement to the shaft 6 through the medium of any driving connection, the gear wheel 12 will be rotated, and the rotation thereof will be imparted through the interposed pinion 13, to the gear wheel 15. The rotation of the gear wheel 15 will impart a rotary movement to the eccentric pin 17 and through the me dium of the slidable block 18, engaging the walls of the slot 19, will impart a back and forth movement to the actuating arm 9, thereby rocking the husking roll frame about the shaft fulcrum 6.

Any number of husking rolls may be employed the same being preferably mounted as follows: Suitable bearing supports project upwardly from the segment frame parts 9 and 10, the said supports being arranged in pairs 20 and 21, the supports 21 being movable relative to the supports 20, through the medium of a pivotal connection 21 with the supporting frame. The supports 21 though normally fixed in position may be adjusted as desired through the medium of thebolt and slot connections 20 The husking rolls preferably comprise a metallic tubular inner or body part, 22, and a surrounding tubular yieldable part, as rubber, 23, and preferably one roll of each pair is larger than the cooperating roll of the same pair. Suitable. springs, 24, interposed between the husking roll supports normally tend to hold the cooperating rolls of each pair in contact with one another.

It is desirable to rotate the cooperating rolls of each pair in a direction toward one another, at a rapid speed, and it is contemplated by the present invention to positively drive the various rolls through the medium of mechanism cooperating with the driving mechanism for the roll supporting frame, heretofore described.

Mounted upon the shaft 14, is a suitable gear wheel 24, adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 26, mounted upon the shaft 6, which gear wheel 26 is in turn adapted to mesh with a pinion 27 secured upon the end one of the husking roll shafts 28. It will be noted that each of the husking rolls is provided with a shaft projecting beyond the end supports, therefor, and that each of said shafts is provided with a pinion, the pinions of the respective shafts being arranged in mesh, one with the other, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Assuming that the pinion 27 in mesh with the gear wheel 26 is rotating in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, this movement of the pinion will impart a reverse movement to the cooperating roll whereby the rolls move in a direction toward one another. Continuing the operation, the pin ion mounted upon said cooperating roll being in mesh with the pinion of the roll of the next succeeding pair, will rotate this roll in a reverse direction, to the end that the movement of the cooperating roll of this succeeding pair will be in the same direction as the cooperating roll of the preceding pair, with the result that the rolls of each pair will move in opposition one to the other.

A suitable housing is provided at the sides of the machine, preferably comprising plates 30 which incline downwardly and inwardly and connect with an elongated support or runway 31. The plates 30 and runway 31 are preferably supported from the side braces 5 of the main frame through the medium of bracket bars 32, secured at 33 to the side plates 30, and having an offset upper end 34 secured at 35 to the brace bars 5, and also having an offset lower end 36 with an inwardly extending terminal engaging beneath and secured to the longitudinally extending runway 31. The runway 31 preferably has an upwardly extending edge flange 37 overlying the outer surface of the side plates whereby to prevent material escaping at the base of the side plates at points intermediate the ends of the latter.

The elongated runway is, as will be seen from the drawings, arranged at a longitudinal inclination, so that the tendency is for the material to seek the lower end thereof, and preferably an endless conveyer is provided for positively feeding the husksand other material toward the outlet end of the runway. This conveyer, 38, is preferably mounted upon rolls 39 and 40, so that the upper stretch of the conveyor is adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the runway and be firmly supported thereby in receiving the husks, etc., discharged from the husking rolls thereabove. The roll 39 is preferably driven through the medium of a belt 41, engaging one end a pulley 42,

mounted upon the shaft of the roller 39 and secured thereto, the belt engaging at its opposite-end a suitable drive pulley 43 secured to the gear wheel 25, mounted upon the shaft 14.

It has been found that when a number of cars are inserted into the machine at a time, there is a likelihood of certain of the ears being engaged at their ends between the rolls, which would tend to injure the ears, and to obviate any difficulty along this line, I have provided means to disengage any of the ears which may have become thus wedged between the husking rolls. This means preferably takes the form of elongated bars 44, two of which being illustrated,the said bars being arranged above and extending longitudinally of the rolls, the bars at the forward end of the machine being preferably offset downwardly and secured to the upper surface of the front end 1 of the main supporting frame at 45. The opposite ends of said bars are supported from a suitable inverted U-shaped bracket 46, the latter being secured at 47 to the top of the rear end 2 of the main supporting frame of the machine.

It is understood of course that the segment ends of the husking roll frame are suitably braced and supported by side plates 48 secured to the ends 9 and 10, as at 49.

In order to prevent theears from being forced out of the machine in the husking operation, a suitable screen, 50, is provided, subtantially overlying all of the husking rolls, said screen being supported at its ends by suitable brackets, 51, projecting upwardly from the ends 9 and 10, and having offset terminals 52 removably secured to the screen as by bolts 58, to the end that the screen may be removed as desired. Likewise the ear releasing bars 44 may be removed, as clesired, since the same are connected by detachable bolts. This will afford ready ac cess to the various husking rolls, which, in turn, may be independently removed, as de-' sired.

At the forward end of the machine is preferably provided a feed chute 54, of any desired construction, the same being adapted to deliver the ears to be husked into engagement with the husking rolls at the forward end of the machine. Any suitable construction of delivery chute or receiving member for the cars which have been husked may be provided at the rear end of the machine, which is open at this point between the screen and husking rolls.

The supports for the husking rolls are preferably of a construction whereby to permit of a suitable oil feed cup, 55, there being preferably one for each of said rolls fitted in an upwardly extending tubular extension,

55 of the supports and communicating with the shaft receiving aperture of said supports.

The operation may be briefly reviewed as follows :-Rotary movement being imparted to the main shaft 6 in any desired manner, the gear mechanism heretofore described will be operated therefrom to impart movement to the various movable parts of the machine. The operator places a quantity of corn to be husked upon the chute 54, the ears falling into direct contact with the upper end of the husking rolls, and in the movement of the ears along the support provided by the husking rolls, the husks thereof will be en gaged between cooperating rolls and severed from the ear. The rocking movement imparted to the cradle-like formation ofhusking rolls will tend to constantly change the relative positions of the cooperating rolls of each pair with the result that ears both large and small will, at one time or another, be brought into operative husking contact with the husking rolls. Should any of the ears be placed incorrectly upon the husking rolls, with the result that they assume an upright position when the ends thereof would have a tendency to become wedged between the rolls, these ears will be disengaged by the releasing bars, 44, as previously described.

The severed husks, silk, etc., will readily pass between the rolls and fall upon the traveling conveyer 38, and be delivered to the floor or any suitable receiving vessel, at the discharge end of the machine.

I11 the claims wherein I refer to the term horizontally as applying to the general position of the husking devices, shaft, etc., the same is not to be strictly construed in that the parts maybe arranged'at a slight inclination, as illustrated in the drawings and still come within the intent and meaning of this term, as employed.

I claim 1. In a husking machine, a series of elongated husking rolls arranged side by side and in the form of a segment, means for imparting rotary movement to the individual rolls, and means for imparting a rocking movement to the series of rolls to change the operative positions thereof.

2. In a husking machine, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed husking devices, a support for said devices, and means for imparting a swinging movement to the series of devices about a horizontally disposed fulcrum whereby the relative positions of the devices may be constantly changed.

3. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of husking rolls, a frame for the rolls, the rolls being supported from the frame whereby to assume a horizontally disposed cradle-like formation, and means for imparting a swinging movementto the i supporting frame about a horizontal axis.

4. In a husking machine,the'combination of a plurality of pairs of rotatable husking rolls, a support therefor, a bearing for the support, and means for imparting uninterrupted reverse rotatable movements to the support about said bearing.

5. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls, segment-shaped supports for the ends of the rolls, whereby the rolls assume a horizon tally disposed cradle-like formation, means for supplying ears to said husking rolls, a drive shaft, and connections between said drive shaft and the segment supports whereby to impart rocking movement to the rolls about a horizontal axis, and connections between said drive shaft and the bushing rolls, whereby to rotate the latter.

6. In a husking machine, the combina tion of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls,

segi'nent-shaped supports for the ends of the rolls, whereby the rolls assume a cradle-like formation, means for supplying ears to said husking rolls, a drive shaft, and connections between said drive shaft and the segment supports whereby to impart rocking movement to the rolls about a horizontal axis, connections between said drive shaft and the husking rolls whereby to rotate the latter, and a runway arranged beneath the husking rolls and substantially co-extensive therewith, whereby to receive the severed husks.

7. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls, segment-shaped supports for the ends of the rolls, whereby the rolls assume a cradle-like formation, means for supplying ears to said husking rolls, a drive shaft, and connections between said drive shaft and the segment supports whereby to impart rocking movement to the cradle-like construction about a horizontal axis, connections between said drive shaft and the husking rolls whereby to rotate the latter, an endless carrier arranged below and substantially co-extensive with the husking rolls to receive the husks, and driving means for said carrier operatively associated with said drive shaft.

8. In a husking machine, the combination of an elongated shaft, a series of husking rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle above the shaft, end supports for said rolls sleeved upon said shaft, and means engaging one of said end supports for imparting rocking movement to the rolls about said shaft.

9. In a husking machine, the combination of an elongated shaft, a series of husking rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle above the shaft, end supports for said rolls sleeved upon said shaft, and means engaging said end supports for imparting rocking movement to the rolls about said shaft, said means including a down- Ward projection on one of said supports, an eccentric having an engagement with a slotted end of said downward extension, and gear means operatively associated with the shaft for imparting movement to said eccentric.

lO. In husking machine, the combination of an elongated shaft, a series of husking rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle above the shaft, end supports for said rolls sleeved upon said shaft, and means engaging one of said end supports for imparting rocking movement to the rolls about said shaft, said means including a downward projection on one of said supports, an eccentric having an engagement with a slotted end of said downward extension, gear means operatively associated with the shaft for imparting movement to said eccentric and an endless carrier below the husking rolls having an operative drive connection with said shaft.

11. In a husking machine, the combination of husking rolls, a support for the latter, means for rotating the husking rolls, means for imparting body movement to the plurality of rolls, and ear releasing means arranged above the rolls and normally out of contact with the ears when in husking position on said rolls.

12. In a husking machine, the combina tion of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls, a support for the rolls, means for imparting rotary movement to the support, means for imparting rotary movement to the rolls, and an elongated member arranged above and extending longitudinally of the rolls, constituting ear releasing means.

13. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of series of husking rolls, arranged about the arc of a circle, means for imparting rotary movement to the series, whereby to change the operative positions of the rolls, and a plurality of relatively stationary car releasing bars extending longitudinally of and above the rolls, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14:. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle having a horizontal axis, means for imparting rotary movement to the rolls, and simultaneous movement to the series of rolls about said horizontal axis to shift their relative position, and a guard plate arranged above and substantially co-extensive with said rolls.

15. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle having a horizontal axis, means for imparting rotary movement to the rolls, and simultaneous rocking movement to the series of rolls about said horizontal axis to shift their relative position, and a screen arranged above and substantially co-extensive with said rolls.

16. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of rolls arranged substantially about the arc of a circle, means for imparting rocking movement to the series of rolls, an endless conveyer below the rolls, a support arranged between opposite stretches of the conveyer to be engaged by the upper stretch thereof, and side plates connected to said support and projecting upwardly and outwardly therefrom.

17. In a husking machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of husking rolls, means for bodily moving the series of rolls, means for rotating the individual rolls, an elongated ear releasing bar extending longitudinally of the rolls and spaced therefrom so as to be normally out ofcontact with the ears to be husked when in proper position on the rolls.

18. In a corn husking machine, the combination with a series of pairs of husking rolls, of means for rocking the series back and forth, and means for rotating the rolls.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK H. KNAPP.

Witnesses HELEN N. RAMSEY, JAs. E. HUToHINsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

